Apparatus for performing multimedia-based data transmission and associated method

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to data transmission, and more particularly, to apparatus for performing multimedia-based data transmission and to associated method.

It is hardly workable to perform data transmission, such as file exchange, photo exchange, etc., between mobile phones of different brands or different models since they are typically designed according to different schemes. For example, not all mobile phones are equipped with additional hardware resources such as Bluetooth (BT) or Wireless Local Area Network (Wireless LAN, WLAN) communication modules for users to exchange data between their mobile phones. For those who own the mobile phones that are equipped with additional hardware resources such as BT or WLAN communication modules, they might still find it inconvenient to exchange data from one mobile phone to the other. For example, in a situation where the users are not so familiar with all the settings of the BT or WLAN communication modules of these mobile phones, it seems unlikely that performing data transmission between the mobile phones can be practiced with ease since these settings are too complicated to be arbitrarily used at once. The users might need to wait for a while for connection establishment and synchronization. In addition, the situation would become even worse when the mobile phones are designed with different platforms. Thus, a novel method is required for providing the users with handy apparatus capable of performing data transmission efficiently and rapidly with ease whenever it is needed to exchange data, such as files, business cards, photos, etc.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an objective of the claimed invention to provide apparatus for performing multimedia-based data transmission with simple operations, and to provide associated method, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

It is another objective of the claimed invention to provide apparatus for performing multimedia-based data transmission between two mobile devices, and to provide associated method of performing data transmission efficiently and rapidly with ease whenever users need to exchange data, such as files, photos, memorandums (memos), electronic business cards, etc.

An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for performing multimedia-based data transmission comprises an image capturing device and a processing circuit. The image capturing device is a peripheral device for capturing images, wherein the image capturing device is arranged to capture a plurality of multi-dimensional barcode images carrying data. In addition, the processing circuit is arranged to control operations of the apparatus and to extract the data carried by the multi-dimensional barcode images.

An exemplary embodiment of a method for performing multimedia-based data transmission comprises: providing an apparatus with an image capturing device, wherein the image capturing device is a peripheral device for capturing images; utilizing the image capturing device to capture a plurality of multi-dimensional barcode images carrying data; and extracting the data carried by the multi-dimensional barcode images.

An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for performing multimedia-based data transmission comprises an image display device and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is arranged to control operations of the apparatus, wherein the processing circuit is arranged to convert data to multi-dimensional barcode images. In addition, the image display device is a peripheral device for displaying visual information, wherein the image display device is arranged to display one or more multi-dimensional barcode images carrying data.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a diagram of an apparatus for performing multimedia-based data transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart of a method for performing multimedia-based data transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary data flow regarding the method shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> according to a special case of the embodiment shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a multimedia-based data transmission scheme of the method shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates another multimedia-based data transmission scheme of the method shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates another multimedia-based data transmission scheme of the method shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims, which refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, electronic equipment manufacturers may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not in function. In the following description and in the claims, the terms “include” and “comprise” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “include, but not limited to . . . ”. Also, the term “couple” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Accordingly, if one device is coupled to another device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections.

Please refer to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, which illustrates a diagram of an apparatus <b>100</b> for performing multimedia-based data transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the apparatus <b>100</b> of this embodiment is a portable electronic device. For example, the portable electronic device may be a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital camera, or a handy device having multiple functions such as PDA functions and telecommunication functions. This is for illustrative purposes only, and is not meant to be a limitation of the present invention. According to another variation of this embodiment, the apparatus <b>100</b> may be a personal computer (PC) such as a laptop computer or a desktop computer.

As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the apparatus <b>100</b> comprises a processing circuit <b>110</b>, a storage module <b>120</b>, an image capturing device <b>130</b>, an image display device <b>140</b>, an audio input module <b>150</b>, and an audio output module <b>160</b>. According to this embodiment, the processing circuit <b>110</b>, and more particularly, the processing circuit <b>110</b> executing program code <b>110</b>P, is arranged to control operations of the apparatus <b>100</b>. For example, in a situation where the program code <b>110</b>P is Read Only Memory (ROM) code, the processing circuit <b>110</b> may be a hardware controller with the ROM code embedded therein. This is for illustrative purposes only, and is not meant to be a limitation of the present invention. According to a variation of this embodiment, the program code <b>110</b>P may be firmware code, while the processing circuit <b>110</b> may be a micro control unit (MCU) executing the firmware code. According to another variation of this embodiment, the program code <b>110</b>P may be software code, while the processing circuit <b>110</b> may be a micro processing unit (MPU) executing the software code. According to some special cases of this embodiment or the variations mentioned above, at least a portion of the software code, the firmware code, and the ROM code can be utilized for implementing the associated functions of the multimedia-based data transmission.

In addition, the storage module <b>120</b> is arranged to store information. For example, the storage module <b>120</b> may comprise a volatile memory such as a random access memory (RAM). In another example, the storage module <b>120</b> may comprise a non-volatile memory such as a Flash memory. This is for illustrative purposes only, and is not meant to be a limitation of the present invention. According to a variation of this embodiment, the storage module <b>120</b> may comprise an interface circuit arranged to access a portable memory device such as a memory card, where the memory card comprises a Flash memory.

According to this embodiment, the image capturing device <b>130</b>, the image display device <b>140</b>, the audio input module <b>150</b>, and the audio output module <b>160</b> are all peripheral devices of the apparatus <b>100</b>. The image capturing device <b>130</b> is a peripheral device for a user to capture images arbitrarily, for example, the image capturing device <b>130</b> can be a video camera, or a camcorder. In addition, the image display device <b>140</b> is a peripheral device for displaying visual information, and therefore, the user can see the visual information displayed on the image display device <b>140</b>. For example, the image display device <b>140</b> can be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel or a touch screen panel. Additionally, the audio input module <b>150</b> is a peripheral device for the user to record or speak to others through the apparatus <b>100</b>, and the audio output module <b>160</b> is a peripheral device for the user to play back or listen to audio (e.g. music, radio, news, beep, etc.). For example, the audio input module <b>150</b> is a microphone, while the audio output module <b>160</b> is a speaker. This is for illustrative purposes only, and is not meant to be a limitation of the present invention. According to variations of this embodiment, the audio input module <b>150</b> may comprise a microphone, a microphone jack, an audio interfacing circuit, and/or an audio processing circuit, while the audio output module <b>160</b> may comprise a speaker, an earphone jack, an audio interfacing circuit, and/or an audio processing circuit.

In this embodiment, the apparatus <b>100</b> is capable of performing multimedia-based data transmission through at least one peripheral device thereof, such as one or more of the image capturing device <b>130</b>, the image display device <b>140</b>, the audio input module <b>150</b>, and the audio output module <b>160</b>. More particularly, the apparatus <b>100</b> can be utilized as a target apparatus <b>100</b>T or a source apparatus <b>100</b>S during the multimedia-based data transmission mentioned above, where the target apparatus <b>100</b>T represents the data receiving side during the multimedia-based data transmission, while the source apparatus <b>100</b>S represents the data transmitting side during the multimedia-based data transmission. For example, in a situation where the apparatus <b>100</b> is utilized as the target apparatus <b>100</b>T, the image capturing device <b>110</b> is arranged to capture at least one multi-dimensional barcode image (e.g. a single multi-dimensional barcode image, or a plurality of multi-dimensional barcode images) carrying data to be input into the apparatus <b>100</b>. In addition, the control circuit <b>110</b> is arranged to extract the data carried by the aforementioned at least one multi-dimensional barcode image for further use, where the aforementioned at least one multi-dimensional barcode image is displayed by an electronic device. In another example, in a situation where the apparatus <b>100</b> is utilized as the source apparatus <b>100</b>S, the image display device <b>140</b> is arranged to display at least one multi-dimensional barcode image (e.g. a single multi-dimensional barcode image, or a plurality of multi-dimensional barcode images) carrying data to be input into a target apparatus.

Please note that the aforementioned at least one multi-dimensional barcode image may comprise a black/white (B/W) barcode, or comprise a color barcode with colors more than black and white (e.g. colors corresponding to different tones/brightness and different hues). In a situation where a multi-dimensional barcode image is a B/W barcode, it can be referred to as a two-dimensional (2-D) barcode image. In a situation where a multi-dimensional barcode image is a color barcode, it can be referred to as a three-dimensional (3-D) barcode image. Implementation details of the multimedia-based data transmission are further explained according to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart of a method <b>910</b> for performing multimedia-based data transmission through at least one peripheral device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method <b>910</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> can be applied to the apparatus <b>100</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, and more particularly, the processing circuit <b>110</b> executing the program code <b>110</b>P. In addition, the method <b>910</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> can be implemented by utilzing the apparatus <b>100</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, and more particularly, the processing circuit <b>110</b> executing the program code <b>110</b>P. The method is described as follows.

In Step <b>912</b>, an apparatus (such as the apparatus <b>100</b>) captures at least one multi-dimensional barcode image carrying data, by utilizing an image capturing device.

In Step <b>914</b>, the apparatus extracts the data from the multi-dimensional barcode image by utilizing a decoder (e.g. a portion or all of the processing circuit <b>110</b>).

In Step <b>916</b>, the apparatus stores the data extracted by the decoder in a storage of the apparatus, such as the storage module <b>120</b>. In particular, the processing circuit <b>110</b> is arranged to store the data extracted from the multi-dimensional barcode images into the storage module <b>120</b>. For example, the processing circuit <b>110</b> may import the data into a database within the storage module <b>120</b>. In another example, the processing circuit <b>110</b> may save the data as a file in the storage module <b>120</b>.

In particular, the aforementioned at least one multi-dimensional barcode image may represent a single multi-dimensional barcode image or a plurality of multi-dimensional barcode images, and can be referred to as the multi-dimensional barcode image(s) hereafter, for simplicity.

According to a variation of this embodiment, in the situation where the apparatus <b>100</b> is the target apparatus <b>100</b>T, the audio input module <b>150</b> is arranged to receive audio information from the source apparatus (such as the source apparatus <b>100</b>S) that displays the multi-dimensional barcode image(s) toward the apparatus <b>100</b>. In particular, the audio information of this variation may carry a portion of the data to be input into the target apparatus <b>100</b>T.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary data flow regarding the method <b>910</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. A source apparatus <b>100</b>S is sending data to a target apparatus <b>100</b>T through image-based data transmission. In some embodiments, both the source and target apparatus <b>1005</b> and <b>100</b>T are capable of encoding, displaying image, decoding, and image capturing for image-base data transmission, so the two apparatus can exchange their roles.

In practice, the apparatus <b>100</b> can be equipped with JavaScript (which is sometimes known as Java Script, Javascript, etc.) and the required environment thereof, in order to implement the multimedia-based data transmission of the method <b>910</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> and the exemplary data flow shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. For example, at least a portion of the program code <b>110</b>P can be implemented with the JavaScript. In another example, the program code <b>110</b>P may originally include none of the associated functions of the multimedia-based data transmission, and the user may install an installation package that is downloaded from a website of a service provider through the Internet or an installation package stored in a CD-ROM provided by the service provider, causing the program code <b>110</b>P to include the associated functions of the multimedia-based data transmission.

As shown in the source apparatus <b>100</b>S in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the functional block labeled “Data selection” represents a reading process, in which the processing circuit <b>110</b> of the source apparatus <b>100</b>S reads from memory (e.g. the storage module <b>120</b> of the source apparatus <b>100</b>S) the data for being transmitted. In addition, the functional block labeled “Data-to-image conversion” represents a data-to-image conversion process, in which the processing circuit <b>110</b> of the source apparatus <b>1005</b> performs data-to-image conversion on the data to generate the multi-dimensional barcode image(s) carrying the data. In particular, the processing circuit <b>110</b> of the source apparatus <b>1005</b> converts the data to one or more multi-dimensional barcode images and the image display device <b>140</b> thereof displays the one or more multi-dimensional barcode images. In some embodiment, the multi-dimensional barcode image(s) can be generated by encoding the data into image or video pictures. Additionally, the functional block labeled “Image display” represents an image display process, in which the image display device <b>140</b> of the source apparatus <b>1005</b> displays the multi-dimensional barcode image(s) under the control of the processing circuit <b>110</b> of the source apparatus <b>100</b>S.

On the path between the source apparatus <b>100</b>S and the target apparatus <b>100</b>T shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, “Image-based data transmission” represents an imaging/quasi-imaging process. In a situation where the aforementioned at least one multi-dimensional barcode image represents a single multi-dimensional barcode image, the single multi-dimensional barcode image is projected onto an image sensor within the image capturing device <b>130</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T in the imaging/quasi-imaging process. In a situation where the aforementioned at least one multi-dimensional barcode image represents a plurality of multi-dimensional barcode images, the multi-dimensional barcode images are projected onto the image sensor within the image capturing device <b>130</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T one by one in the imaging/quasi-imaging process.

As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the functional block labeled “Image capture” represents an image capturing process, in which the image capturing device <b>130</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T captures the multi-dimensional barcode image(s) under the control of the processing circuit <b>110</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T. In addition, the functional block labeled “Image-to-data conversion” represents an image-to-data conversion process, in which the processing circuit <b>110</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T performs image-to-data conversion on the captured multi-dimensional barcode image(s) to extract the data carried by the multi-dimensional barcode image(s), where the data obtained in the image-to-data conversion process is a reproduced version of the data obtained/read in the read process mentioned above. In some embodiments, the data is extracted by decoding the image or video pictures into data. Additionally, the functional block labeled “Data importation” represents a write process, in which the processing circuit <b>110</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T writes the data into the storage module <b>120</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T, and more particularly, imports the data into a database within the storage module <b>120</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T, such as the database mentioned above.

Although the processes represented by the functional blocks shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> are explained one by one, this by no means implies that any of the processes should not start until the previous process thereof is completed. Please note that all or a portion of the processes represented by the functional blocks shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> can operate at the same time for this exemplary data flow shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a multimedia-based data transmission scheme of the method <b>910</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the multimedia-based data transmission scheme shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, some implementation details of the source apparatus <b>100</b>S and the target apparatus <b>100</b>T shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> are further explained as follows.

According to this embodiment, the image display device <b>140</b> of the source apparatus <b>100</b>S displays the aforementioned at least one multi-dimensional barcode image, and more particularly, a plurality of multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, where a time axis (labeled “t”) is illustrated with the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b> for indicating that one by one the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b> are displayed by the image display device <b>140</b> of the source apparatus <b>100</b>S. For example, the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b> may comprise the B/W barcode mentioned above, where the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b> can be referred to as 2-D barcode images. In another example, the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b> may comprise the color barcode mentioned above, where the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b> can be referred to as 3-D barcode images.

In this embodiment, the image capturing device <b>130</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T captures the multi-dimensional barcode images, and the image display device <b>140</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T displays information indicating that the target apparatus <b>100</b>T is receiving data from the source apparatus <b>100</b>S, for example, displays a window with a scale indicating the completion rate of the multimedia-based data transmission.

Regarding the target apparatus <b>100</b>T, under the control of the processing circuit <b>110</b> thereof, the audio output module <b>160</b> thereof is arranged to output a feedback such as an audio feedback <b>420</b> to the source apparatus <b>100</b>S that displays the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b> toward the target apparatus <b>100</b>T, where the audio output module <b>160</b> can be regarded as a feedback output module, and under control of the processing circuit <b>100</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T, the feedback output module <b>160</b> thereof is arranged to output the feedback in response to the captured multi-dimensional barcode images. For example, the audio feedback <b>420</b> may comprise information that indicates completion of receiving a specific multi-dimensional barcode image of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b>, in order to trigger the source apparatus <b>100</b>S to switch from the specific multi-dimensional barcode image to the next multi-dimensional barcode image of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b> during the multimedia-based data transmission. In practice, at least a portion of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b> may comprise information that indicates the transmission progress, such as a total number of multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b>, an indication of whether the multimedia-based data transmission should be terminated, or a number of remaining multi-dimensional barcode images. In addition, the audio feedback <b>420</b> may further comprise information that triggers the source apparatus <b>100</b>S to change a resolution of at least a portion of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b> during the multimedia-based data transmission and/or to change one or more control parameters regarding the robustness of the multimedia-based data transmission, such as frame numbers utilized for synchronization between the source apparatus <b>100</b>S and the target apparatus <b>100</b>T. For example, when there are too many errors in converting the received multi-dimensional barcode image to data, the target apparatus <b>100</b>T may send an audio feedback <b>420</b> indicating of decreasing the resolution to match the capability of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T. In another example, when there are too many errors in converting the received multi-dimensional barcode image to data, the target apparatus <b>100</b>T may send an audio feedback <b>420</b> indicating of changing the control parameter regarding the robustness of the multimedia-based data transmission, in order to improve the robustness of the multimedia-based data transmission. As a result, it will be easier for the target apparatus <b>100</b>T to correctly capture and/or to correctly decode the multi-dimensional barcode images, such as those of this embodiment or some other embodiments.

In some other embodiments, the feedback generated by the target apparatus <b>100</b>T is not limited to audio, the feedback generated for the source apparatus <b>100</b>S may be in the form of ultrasound, lights, radio frequency (RF) signals, or a combination thereof. In other words, the audio input module <b>150</b> and audio output module <b>160</b> in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> can be an embodiment of a feedback input/output (I/O) module coupled to the processing circuit <b>110</b> for sending a feedback if the apparatus <b>100</b> is a target apparatus or receiving a feedback if the apparatus <b>100</b> is a source apparatus. The feedback I/O module inputs or outputs a feedback in a form selected from ultrasound, lights, RF signals, audio, or a combination thereof.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates another multimedia-based data transmission scheme of the method <b>910</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the multimedia-based data transmission scheme shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, some implementation details of the source apparatus <b>100</b>S and the target apparatus <b>100</b>T shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> are further explained as follows.

According to this embodiment, the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>410</b> mentioned above are replaced by the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>510</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, where at least a portion of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>510</b> are generated by inter-frame encoding. In some embodiments, resolutions of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>510</b> are variable (which means they may be not all the same), with one of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>510</b> that has a low resolution (e.g. a resolution that is lower than the resolution of at least a portion of the others of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>510</b>) carrying at least one parameter for controlling the multimedia-based data transmission. For example, the first displayed multi-dimensional barcode image of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>510</b> may have a low resolution to ensure that one or more parameters for controlling the multimedia-based data transmission can be correctly transmitted to the target apparatus <b>100</b>T.

More particularly, in this embodiment, all of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>510</b> are generated by inter-frame encoding. In practice, Reed-Solomon codes can be utilized for generating the barcode of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>510</b>. Taking (n, k) code as an example with k&lt;n, in a situation where n frames (or n multi-dimensional barcode images) of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>510</b> are transmitted during the multimedia-based data transmission, the data corresponding to the n frames can be correctly extracted with ease by decoding at least k frames (or k multi-dimensional barcode images) of the n frames. Therefore, when some of the n frames are not properly captured by the image capturing device <b>130</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T (e.g. some captured images are not clear, or some captured images do not include the whole barcode area), the processing circuit <b>110</b> of the target apparatus <b>100</b>T can typically extract the data corresponding to the n frames, as long as the values of k and n are properly selected by the user or designed by the designer.

Please note that the target apparatus <b>100</b>T of this embodiment has no need to generate any feedback (such as the audio feedback <b>420</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>), since the inter-frame encoding can ensure the correctness of the multimedia-based data transmission. This is for illustrative purposes only, and is not meant to be a limitation of the present invention. According to a variation of this embodiment, the target apparatus <b>100</b>T may still generate a feedback such as the audio feedback <b>420</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> for the source apparatus <b>100</b>S.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates another multimedia-based data transmission scheme of the method <b>910</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where this embodiment is a variation of the embodiments respectively shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> and <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. As mentioned above, at least a portion of the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>510</b> are generated by inter-frame encoding. In addition, the target apparatus <b>100</b>T outputs the audio feedback <b>420</b> mentioned above to the source apparatus <b>100</b>S that displays the multi-dimensional barcode images <b>510</b> toward the target apparatus <b>100</b>T. Similar descriptions for this embodiment are not repeated in detail here.

It is an advantage of the present invention that the present invention can provide the users with handy apparatus capable of performing data transmission efficiently and rapidly with ease whenever it is needed to exchange data, such as files, photos, memorandums (memos), electronic business cards, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) or Global Positioning System (GPS) information of a specific location, etc. As a result, the users have no need to deal with any connection cable or complicated settings of hardware resources such as Bluetooth (BT) or Wireless Local Area Network (Wireless LAN, WLAN) communication modules.

It is another advantage of the present invention that the users may save their time and communication costs since the multimedia-based data transmission of the present invention can be performed at once without the aids from the telecommunication network of any service provider.

It is another advantage of the present invention that, as the multimedia-based data transmission mentioned above can be performed between a portable electronic device and a PC that are implemented according to the present invention, data transmission or synchronization can be practiced efficiently and rapidly with ease, having no need to prepare any high cost accessory such as an additional BT communication module for the PC.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.